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Dogs and bones naturally go together, right? Well, not so fast. This time-honored tradition might actually be dangerous, and sometimes even deadly, for dogs. But what if it’s your dog’s favorite past-time and one that keeps him engaged for hours on end? Not all bones are bad for dogs, so we wanted to give you sound advice from our vets at Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics on this topic.

The most dangerous type of bones you can give a dog is cooked bones. The cooking process makes bones much more brittle, increasing the chance that they’ll splinter and can cause internal damage once ingested. Plus, if you’re feeding your dog bones as a nutritional supplement, cooked bones have far less nutritional value than raw bones.

Dangers of Cooked Bones

  • Broken teeth. Veterinary dentistry is much like surgery, as your dog will need to be sedated. Plus, it can be costly to fix a canine tooth or multiple teeth.
  • Mouth or tongue lacerations. They can be bloody and require an immediate trip to the vet to staunch the bleeding.
  • Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be terrifying for both you and your pet.
  • Bone gets stuck in the esophagus. If your dog is gagging after chewing on a bone, he might have it stuck in the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. If he can’t dislodge it on his own, you’ll need to see a veterinarian right away.
  • Bone gets stuck in windpipe. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, a dog might inhale a small piece of bone. Once in the windpipe, even a tiny bit of bone can compromise his airway and necessitate immediate medical attention.
  • Bone gets stuck in stomach. Perhaps the bone went down without any issues but may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
  • Bone gets stuck in intestines. If your dog can’t pass the bone, surgery is required.
  • Constipation due to bone fragments. Passing bone fragments can be very painful because they’re very sharp, and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. Bones also contain a lot of calcium, which is very firming to the stool.
  • Severe bleeding from the rectum. Along with constipation, bone fragments can also cause rectal bleeding and an emergency trip to the vet.
  • Peritonitis. Peritonitis is a difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen caused by bone fragments that poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. It can be deadly.
Safe dog bones

Are Any Bones Safe for Dogs?

After reading this, you’re probably a little terrified about giving your dog any type of bone. There are three types of bones that are safer for Fido than cooked bones; edible bones, recreational bones, and safe commercial chews.

Edible bones. When crushed in a meat grinder, non-weight-bearing raw bones from chicken wings and turkey necks can be safe to feed your dog to enhance their raw food diet. These are hollow, non-weight-bearing bones that do not contain marrow, but they can provide calcium, phosphorous and other trace minerals.

Recreational bones. Big is the key to recreational bones. Think beef or bison femurs and hip bones–big weight-bearing bones that are filled with marrow. While not nutritionally significant, these types of bones aren’t suitable for chewing up and swallowing but are perfect for gnawing. Not only do they keep your dog stimulated, but they are also great for oral health–especially if they have cartilage and soft tissue still attached, which stimulates saliva, breaks down tartar, and is the equivalent of a good brushing and flossing.

Safe commercial dog chews. For instance, we recommend Pedigree Dentibones and C.E.T. chews. Other non-edible chew toys are an option. They are durable nylon bones often infused with flavor that are virtually indestructible.

Chihuahua with a bone

A Quick Guide to the Do’s and Don’ts of Dog Bones

Here are some rules to follow for Fido’s safety according:

Do offer large raw meaty bones.
Do take the bone away after 10 to 15 minutes and put it into the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
Do dispose of the bone after three or four days.
Do supervise your dog when you give him a bone.
Do give your dog bones that are longer than their muzzle (impossible to swallow).
Do give a bone after a meal when your dog is less hungry.

Don’t give your dog cooked bones of any kind.
Don’t give your dog bones that can be easily swallowed.
Don’t let your dog chew any kind of bone into small pieces.
Don’t give your dog a bone if he has stomach problems.
Don’t give your dog a bone to chew on if there’s another dog visiting.
Don’t give bones to a dog that has had restorative dental work.
Don’t give bones to dogs who are prone to pancreatitis, as marrow is high in fat and can cause a flare-up or diarrhea.

Your Jacksonville Veterinarian

At the Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic, our goal is to help your dog stay healthy and happy for many wonderful years together. That includes offering advice on good parenting habits for your pet. If you think your dog has been injured or is ill after chewing on a bone, please seek our help or visit an emergency veterinarian immediately.